Impact of expansion of a city as a sustainable tourist destination: a case of Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

Abstract This paper analyses the “what counts” factors required for the successful transformation and branding of a city from a normal large capital city into a large incorporated, diverse and functional metropolitan city. Public surveys, the principles of urbanization and environmental balance are presented with generally-recognized and data-supported local trends. Moreover, these are analysed and compared with other large metropolitan areas in Europe. The development of a central business district surrounded by metropolitan areas encourages a population flow both outward and inward from the centre for residential, work-related, shopping and cultural/leisure/sport activities. The tendency is for the more highly educated to move and travel inwards to take advantage of the shopping, cultural and sport facilities, and work opportunities. Consequently, families separate and this generates more travelling for visiting purposes, with the need for upgraded transportation services. The paper concludes with the findings of what is required for successfully engineering a sustainable transformation.